Cycling The Grand Crus of Bordeaux

6 Days from

CAD 2,875

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

Trip Code :

C05BO

Get carried away by the sweet atmosphere and follow an itinerary which will guide you from the 'Entre deux mers' area to the land of 'Haut Medoc'.

Smell the delicate and fruity fragrances spreading from the famous wine properties bearing suggestive names, and dream about the glorious & turbulent past of the old properties you will cross.

The vines of Bordeaux are some of the most famous in the world. Blaye, Margaux, Saint-Emilion, 'Entre deux mer' : these are prestigious appellations and terroirs that you will explore. The diversity of the wine-growing districts allows for the production of many different types of wines such as reds, dry or sweet whites, roses, light reds and sparkling whites. The Bordeaux vineyards include 6,000 chateaux, historic villages, medieval cities, archeological sites and ancient Roman churches. The winegrowers open up their vineyards for wine tastings, wine courses and numerous cultural and gourmet discoveries.

Unbottle the Bordeaux vineyards and take off on a spirited discovery of this iconic wine-growing region.

Highlights

A ride through the most prestigious vineyards of Bordeaux
Numerous opportunities of wine tasting in prestigious wine estate
Explore the medieval town of St Emilion listed as World Heritage by UNESCO

Key Information

5 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 3-star hotels
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent

Countries visited: France

What's Included

All breakfasts
GPS Route directions and maps
High quality bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's Not Included

Optional electric bikes
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas & vaccinations

4 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The route takes you through quiet country lanes, through vineyards on well marked paths and sleepy villages. Well marked cycling paths are also used throughout.

Day 2

48 km / 29.8 miles

Day 3

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 4

64 km / 39.8 miles

Day 5

61 km / 37.9 miles

Itinerary

The tour starts in Bordeaux.

Today discover the taste of 'Entre deux Mers' appellation: the Garonne River to the south, the Dordogne River to the north makes incredible diversity of relief, exposure and soils also mean that the wine come here in all colors. Dry and sweet whites, reds, roses, Clairets, Cremants and even a spirit, the Fine de Bordeaux, all add to the variety.

Leave Bordeaux on the cycling path which will lead you to the fortified village of Creon. Then continue through the vineyards of Cadillac and the surrounding wall of the village.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ride through the 'Entre-deux Mers' vineyards, between the Garonne and the Dordogne River. Visit Rauzan, overlooked by its dignified medieval chateau, before reaching the prestigious village of Saint-Emilion, with its rich historical testimonies.

Legend tells that the town bears the name of a Breton monk that performed miracles while living an exemplary life. In order to retire from social life, he settled in a natural grotto in 750, which can still be visited nowadays in the heart of the town. Meet the winemakers and taste exceptional wines and vintages.

Meals Included: Breakfast

A ride along Bordeaux and Cotes de Blaye vineyards. Explore the 17th century citadel, in Blaye, overlooking the Gironde River. The Blaye - Cote de Bordeaux appellation offers white and reds wines. Red wines aromas are strong and fruity for a young wine, with musk and spice notes developing with age.

The dry whites are intense and powerful, with notes of boxwood and citrus (lemon, grapefruit).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take a deep breath of iodined air. Start this ride by crossing the Gironde river by boat to reach Lamarque and its famous Médoc vineyards and chateaux wine cellars. Over on the other side, you can discover the jewel in the crown of the Verrou Vauban (the Vauban defensive system): Fort Médoc. Next, it's time to explore the Bordeaux Wine Route in Médoc as you pass through the world-renowned Margaux area. The route continues along small roads which pass through the Médoc's vineyards, small hedged fields and moorland as far as Bordeaux.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends in Bordeaux.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Vaccination

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

In Bordeaux, wine and gastronomy are an essential part of local heritage. They are inseparable from Bordeaux’s unique art de vivre. Blessed by the richness of its vineyards and enjoying proximity to the ocean, Arcachon Bay, and the estuary, Bordeaux is one of France’s culinary havens. Bordeaux and its surrounding regions offer a feast of delights for wine and food lovers. Do not miss to taste the local speciality, a canelé, a tiny vanilla and rum-flavoured cake that looks like a miniature fluted jelly mould. The inside is spongy and the outside is a delicate caramelised crust. Locals eat them for breakfast, elevenses, lunch and dinnertime, and they can even be paired with Bordeaux wine.

Weather

In Bordeaux, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy which makes it ideal for cycling. The winters are very cold, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -0°C to 25°C and is rarely below -7°C or above 31°C.

The hottest month is July with daily average temperatures being around 24°C

Is this trip for you?

Activity Level: 2 (Moderate)
Average daily distance: 55km
No. of days cycling: 4
Terrain and route: The route takes you through quiet country lanes, through vineyards on well marked paths and sleepy villages. Well marked cycling paths are also used throughout.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. We have suggested the minimum age for this trip is 8yrs as we feel they will be able to ride the bikes we have to offer and complete the route. These are all subject to availability, and therefore we ask that you enquire about these on booking. Please note due to the size of the bikes and distanced required to cycle, this trip is not appropriate for children aged under 15. As a guide we have suggested that 15yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities. Please bear in mind the weather when choosing to book, temperatures can be very high in the middle of summer.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.